Junior Teri Braun (front) and freshman Karisa Calderon (back) combined for six of the Warriors' season-high 17 blocks tonight against the NAIA's No. 18-ranked Coyotes of The College of Idaho.
Corban Puts Up Block-Fest, but Falls to C of I
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – On a night where the school record for most blocks by the team in a single match was nearly broken, Corban's women's volleyball team dropped a heart-breaker to the NAIA's No. 18-ranked Coyotes of The College of Idaho, 3-0 (18-25, 25-27, 23-25), Saturday night inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
As a team, the Warriors registered a season-best 17 blocks (one solo, 16 assist) with sophomore Tiffany Land (Independence, Ore.) and junior Teri Braun (Dallas, Ore.) recording five and four respectively. Tonight's block total ranks second all-time in single match history and nearly broke a 12-year-old school record that was set by then-Western Baptist during the 1997 season.
After combining for eight blocks over the opening two sets, Corban surpassed its combined total from Set #1 & 2 thanks to a nine combined blocks in the third and final set. Unfortunately it was not enough, as The College of Idaho squeak out the victory in three grueling sets.
Set #1 looked like a runaway victory for The College of Idaho over the opening seven points, as the visiting 'Yotes built an early 6-1 lead. Corban would begin to claw its way back into the set, as the Warriors used a 15-12 run to pull within two points (18-16) following back-to-back attack errors by C of I. Following the second timeout of the frame by C of I, the Coyotes used a set-closing 10-6 run en route to capturing the opening set by seven points (25-18).
The middle set seemed like a repeat as the previous one, as The College of Idaho jumped out to an early 7-3 lead only to have Corban battle back. The Warriors used a 6-2 run that knotted the set at 9-9 following a kill by freshman Morgan Hirzel (Fullerton, Calif.). C of I would regain the lead and then extend it to as much as six points (19-13) following a Corban attack error. Using a never-say-die attitude, the Warriors battled back and pulled even at 24-24 thanks to a service ace by freshman Chandra Baskoro (Gresham, Ore.). A kill off the arm of freshman Jenny Harman (Salem, Ore.) would knot the set for only the third time at 25-25, but C of I would close out the middle frame thanks to a Warrior hitting miscue and a Coyotes' service ace for the two-point victory (27-25).
Set #3 began just like the previous two, as The College of Idaho jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead only to have Corban rally behind an 11-7 run that knotted the score at 12-all. C of I would pull ahead once again at 16-12 before Corban used a 4-1 run to get within a single point (17-16) after a Baskoro kill. A mini 3-0 run by The College of Idaho would force a Warrior timeout before Corban would once again get within a mere point (20-19) thanks to another service ace by Baskoro. C of I used a 4-2 run to grab its first match point (24-21), but Corban used a mini 2-0 run that was highlighted by a combo block by Land and Harman to get within striking distance at 24-23. Unfortunately, a combo block by The College of Idaho would end the night for the Warriors as the 'Yotes closed out the match in three straight sets with the final tally coming at 25-23.
Offensively, Hirzel led all players with a match-high eight kills to go along with a trio of Warriors – Baskoro, Land, and Harman – who each tallied six kills. Freshman Karisa Calderon (Murrieta, Calif.) handed out a match-high 21 assists, while junior Rebecca Franke (Pendleton, Ore.) anchored the Warriors' defense with a team-best 13 digs from her back row position.
The College of Idaho was led offensively by Kristin Henning's team-high seven kills, while a trio of Coyotes – Lauren Bourgeau, Naomi Reimer, and Kathryn Ely – added six kills each. Reimer nearly registered a triple-double on the night, as she handed out 13 assists and recorded 11 digs. C of I's Madie Machurek ran the 'Yotes' offense with a team-high 18 assists, while Whitney Owen recorded a match-high 15 digs defensively.
After the opening weekend of conference play, Corban is 1-7 overall and 0-2 in Cascade Collegiate Conference action. Meanwhile, the nationally-ranked Coyotes improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in CCC matches. The Warriors are back in action on Friday, September 11th, when they travel north to the state of Washington to take on the Eagles of Northwest University beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Kirkland.